James 1:19
[19] “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”
The mature believer possesses several spiritual qualities in his life. Three of those qualities are mentioned here in our verse. I want us to think about the mature believer, and what he displays to others. Ask yourself at the end of this devotional, “Am I a mature saint?”, and “Do I possess these qualities in my life?”
First, we see that the mature saint is a good listener. He knows how to take the time to lend an ear to what is being said. This also means that he has great discernment, and he is quick to pick up on what is being said. Now, in context, it is referring to the Word of God. A mature saint has tuned his hearing toward the Word, and he is quick to hear the Lord speaking to him. He has trained his ear on what to hear, and what to tune out. He is good at listening to that which is worth listening to.
Second, we see that a mature saint is a slow responder. He is not quick to give an answer. The mature saint is prayerful and careful with his words. He chooses them wisely, knowing that one day he will give an account to God for what he says. The mature saint realizes that God gave him two ears and one mouth, for the reason that it is more important to listen than to speak. His voice doesn’t always have to be heard. An immature saint always has something to say about everything.
Finally, a mature saint controls his temper. This doesn’t mean that he does not get angry, but he chooses to get angry about what God is angry about. He has learned to temper the old man and keep him in subjection. Losing our temper is not worth losing our testimony. The mature Christian has allowed the Word of God to sharpen his ear, bridle his tongue and control his temper. Dear reader, may we practice this verse today.